The tiki design could include a complete face, with the eyes, nose, ears and mouth but it could also contain just one feature. Tiki are miniature human figures and they are used mainly for protection. It can also be added to a line by showing the waves riding on top. The ocean is represented as an incomplete circle, an arc, radiating outwards.
Apart from that, the Polynesian people believe the ocean to be their final resting place and where everyone goes after death. By itself it may represent leadership and even eternity, but it is usually combined with another symbol.įor example, the sun at the centre with arcs radiating outside to represent the ocean could be used to acknowledge life’s cycle of life and death.īeing an island, Samoans learned to depend on the sea for their livelihoods. The turtle, being able to move from land to sea is regarded as the medium by which people cross into the afterlife.Ī turtle can also be used to represent fertility, long life, family, union and even good health.Īlthough the sun is regarded highly by the Samoans, it cannot be used independently in a tattoo. The turtle is another common symbol in Polynesian tattoos, and is usually created by combining two enatas. When used together with other such symbols, it forms a chain of waves, which is suitable for most Polynesian tattoos. Basically, it takes the form of a ‘W’, although the strokes can be embellished to make a more favorable shape. To understand how this works, you need to understand the form of an enata. The symbol can also be used to represent various aspects of life such as birth and death, life experiences and rank in society.īesides representing stuff, it can also be used to illustrate an action, for example, an enata facing a creature could represent defending the creature while an enata facing away from something indicates an enemy. The ‘enata’ is a typical motif in most Samoan tattoos, and is used to represent the relationships between people and also with the gods. Most of all, shark teeth represent the god of the Polynesian people. This symbol represents the ferocity of the shark but also power and courage. These are represented by triangles with sharp edges which are arranged along the strokes of the tattoo. It covers the midriff of the body from the waist to the knee and also consists mainly of lines going around the body of the person.Īnother symbol present in most traditional designs are the shark teeth, or ‘niho mano’, in fact almost 50% of all Polynesian tattoos include shark teeth. The pe’a is the most common traditional design because it was also common in ancient Samoa as an initiation right. Because the design involved mainly linear elements, it can be fitted on any part of the body and it is especially common around the arm. Of course, other symbols are included to embellish the strokes and make it stand out. This design consists mainly of long strokes to form the shape of a ribbon. These tattoos varied mostly on use and meaning, with the wearer choosing the design that has the message they wish to send. Frankly, very few people get a face tattoo because of the connotations that come with it, but a neck tattoo could be just as awesome. This forms a very cute image which could even go well with a ow cut shoe.įor the bold, a face tattoo would be ideal, factor in the beauty of a Samoan tattoo and you have the makings of an awesome tattoo.
Most women choose to have the tattoo on their foot and only extend it slightly above the ankle. Again, the tattoo could be small enough to cover only the calf or extend it upwards into the thigh.
#Design your own polynesian tattoo plus
The leg provides an alternative area to place the tattoo, plus it can be easily hid if you don’t want it to be visible. Samoan tattoos are usually large and intricate, with several symbols combined, so the arm is a common area to place such a tattoo.ĭepending on how large you want it, it can stretch over the entire arm to be a complete sleeve or you can have it localized around the shoulder. You have probably seen Dwayne Johnson’s (the Rock) tattoo on TV, the one on his left shoulder, that is a typical Samoan sleeve tattoo.
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